Oil Boom Leaves Many Without Housing, New Communities Popping Up

Oil Boom Leaves Many Without Housing, New Communities Popping Up

If the predictions are right, Snyder's population could triple in size within the next few years.

You know the saying, "If you build it they will come."

Well, when it comes to Snyder, "If we don't build it they wont come," as said by County Judge Ricky Fritz at the ground breaking ceremony for the latest housing facilities to be built just 5 mi. south of the city.

If the predictions are right, Snyder's population could triple in size within the next few years.

"A lot of people coming in from out of town, most of which are having difficulty finding rental and places to live," said Terry Martin, mayor of the city of Snyder.

You can blame it on the oil boom.

The Cline Shale area is expected to be larger in impact than the oil boom in Midland/Odessa.

It's certainly the talk of the town.

"People are looking forward to it, not well see what happens in the future because no one can predict that," said Frank Toland, a long-time resident of Snyder.

Uncertainties aside, if they do come, there needs to be a place for workers to stay.

The area may not look like much now, but soon, 150 acres of land will have RV's, lodges, even hotels and workers are starting as early as May.

"Everybody's guessing when when we were told that January's going to be here, but most people think by summer is when the big wave is going to hit," said Dave Ferguson, owner and president of TurnKey Solutions, who has partnered in completing the facilities.

For a place with just a little more than 10,000, there's not much room for anyone new except for a few RV parks that are already booked to capacity..

"Where would your rather be in an rv or one of these lodges?" asks Ferguson.

To answer that, you may want to take a look for yourself at the latest housing project that includes more luxury-style mobile homes.

"If an oil worker knows they're going to be sleeping in the best possible quarters and having the best possible services at an affordable price thats where they're going to be," said Ferguson.

For now many are betting it will be here, because while people in Snyder know people are coming, the hope now is that they'll stay.

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